Concussions
I feel that the media provides misleading information about concussions. I have watched films and read news articles on sports and concussions. The movie I watched showed that people could not recover from shocks. In this case, they depicted concussions as a terminal health problem that affects many talented athletes. Most of the news articles that I read focused on the severe cases of concussions only. In this case, they did not provide adequate information about effective management strategies that relate to concussions. Therefore, I feel that the media exaggerates and provides vague details about concussion.
The three articles reveal that concussion education plays an essential role in developing sustainable solutions towards the existing problem. Coaches, medical practitioners, and other individuals involved in concussion management rely on the most current research (Broglio et al. 245). This statement implies that these professionals focus on establishing the most effective strategies to manage the condition. Their commitments focus on using evidence-based methods in developing viable solutions. For instance, relevant professionals rely on education and prevention and return to play strategies, among other considerations (Broglio et al. 245). From a practical perspective, such strategies focus, allowing the players to adopt the most effective ways to prevent concussions. Besides, the approach ensures that those who experience the problem must return to play after suffering full recovery. According to Cournoyer and Tripp, high school players lack the appropriate knowledge of the symptoms and consequences of concussions (654). This statement suggests that the relevant professionals do not allow the players to acquire adequate knowledge about the condition. I feel that the strategy poses a higher risk of developing the disease. Therefore, the three articles reveal that concussion education plays an essential role in developing sustainable solutions towards the existing problem, but relevant authorities fail to equip players with proper knowledge.
I felt that athletic trainers should experience pressure to return players to games before full physiological recovery. According to Kroshus et al., such pressure exists where players return to games before full recovery under the supervision of the athletic department (944). This statement implies that coaches fear that unrecovered players may face unnecessary threats after returning to games. I feel that athletic trainers have a reason to experience pressure. In this case, coaches should rely on guidance from medical practitioners to determine if the players can return to their regular playing activities. Such approaches would reduce the chances of unrecovered players experiencing other severe head injuries.
Objective assessment in the management of concussion is a crucial activity that allows accurate diagnosis of the conditions. This method leads to effective outcomes when considered together with motor control evaluation and symptom assessment. These tests can help coaches to diagnose concussion symptoms early before the problem escalates. As an athletic trainer in the future, I will focus on evidence-based methods to gather the necessary information to diagnose concussions. Besides, I will focus on enhanced return to play policy to avoid unnecessary risks. I have learned the importance of using credible evidence to manage concussions from the article. The knowledge will be useful in enhancing my ability to promote the safety of players effectively.
Works Cited
Broglio, Steven P, et al. “National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Management of Sport Concussion.” Journal of Athletic Training, vol. 49, no. 2, 2014, pp. 245–265, www.nata.org/sites/default/files/Concussion_Management_Position_Statement.pdf, 10.4085/1062-6050-49.1.07.
Cournoyer, Janie, and Brady L. Tripp. “Concussion Knowledge in High School Football Players.” Journal of Athletic Training, vol. 49, no. 5, Oct. 2014, pp. 654–658, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4208870/, 10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.34. Accessed 26 Feb. 2019.
Kroshus, Emily, et al. “Pressure on Sports Medicine Clinicians to Prematurely Return Collegiate Athletes to Play After Concussion.” Journal of Athletic Training, vol. 50, no. 9, Sept. 2015, pp. 944–951, 10.4085/1062-6050-50.6.03. Accessed 26 Apr. 2020.